AU commends Kenya

June 30, 2008 12:00 am

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By , EGYPT, June 30 – President Mwai Kibaki was among African Heads of state and Government who attended the opening session of the 11th ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union at Sharm-el-Shiekh international conference centre, Egypt on Monday.

Addressing the Summit, Tanzanian president Jarkaya Kikwete who is the current Africa Union Chairman commended President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for setting aside their personal interests and agreeing to form a grand coalition Government for the sake of peace and Unity in the country.

President Kikwete said Kenya’s model of a grand coalition Government formed after the post election skirmishes should be emulated in resolving political disputes in other African Countries facing similar situations.

The Tanzanian President noted that in the last six months, the AU was not only instrumental in resolving the Kenyan crisis but also helped Comoros.

With reference to Kenya, President Kikwete thanked former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa and Graca Machel for their role in solving the post election challenges.

"It was not easy but because of the determination and experience of the panel of eminent persons and the support of President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a solution to the Kenyan crisis was found", said President Kikwete.

On his part the chairperson of the AU Commission Jean Ping commended Kenya Government coalition partners for setting exemplary decisions that restored normalcy after the disputed December general elections results.

Other speakers included the host President Hosni Mubarak, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Dr Asha Rose Migiro and the Secretary General of Arab States Amr Moussa.

The Summit theme is meeting the millennium development goals on water and sanitation.